The performance of Cessna’s Citation X is certainly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in private air travel. In a recent batch of high-speed certification flights, the Citation X sped into the title of the world’s fastest civilian aircraft, clocking in at Mach .935 (993kmh, 617mph).

As part of its FAA mandated test, the craft was required to throttle up its engine and demonstrate that it could maneuver safely while screaming through the skies.

According to Michael Thacker, Cessna senior VP of Engineering, "The high-speed testing of the new Citation X was a success. All responses from the high-speed certification testing were well within the expected performance envelope. While these are the results our engineers fully anticipated, this final round of testing went so smoothly the conditions were completed in fewer flights and hours than planned."

With seating for 9 people and a range of 3,242 nautical miles, the Citation X can easily make the jump from New York to LA; while if it really stretched its limits it could hop the pond too, jetting from New York to London nonstop.